Portable exercise machine

ABSTRACT

A portable exercise device having an elongated tube with a pair of bolsters or handles fixedly attached to each end thereof. A third pair of bolsters is positioned intermediate the ends of the elongated tube and is slidably mounted on the tube in a reciprocatory movement relative to the pairs of bolsters at each end of the tube. Resistance elements are connected between the third pair of bolsters and the tube to resist the pushing or pulling of the third pair of bolsters. The machine is used for exercising a person&#39;s inner and outer thighs, the leg and abdominal muscles. A stand is provided for supporting the exercise machine when performing a bun kick.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various portable exercising devices have been proposed for exercising various muscles in a person's body; such as, the bun and thigh muscles. Many of these devices have been characterized by their limited portability due to the construction and weight of the device and the relatively laborious process of varying the resistive force built into the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

After considerable research and experimentation, the exercise machine of the present invention has been devised to overcome the disadvantages experienced in prior portable exercising devices, whereby the machine is relatively light to facilitate its portability and the resistance forces can be easily adjusted to accommodate various users. The portable exercise device of the present invention comprises, essentially, an elongated tube having a pair of bolsters or handles fixedly attached to each end thereof. A third pair of bolsters is positioned intermediate the ends of the elongated tube and is slidably mounted on the tube in a reciprocatory movement relative to the pairs of bolsters at each end of the tube. Resistance elements are connected between the third pair of bolsters and the tube to resist the pushing or pulling of the third pair of bolsters.

The exercise machine is detachably connected to a stand or cradle for supporting the exercise machine on the floor to facilitate the exercising of the buttock muscles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable exercise machine of the present invention supported by a floor cradle;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the exercise machine as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical perspective view of the exercise machine removed from the floor cradle;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the exercise machine as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the exercise machine as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional side elevational view of the exercise machine taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional side elevational view of the exercise machine shown in FIG. 6, showing the third pair of bolsters moved to an end of the tube to tension all of the resistance elements providing maximum resistance;

FIG. 8 is a sectional side elevational view of the exercise machine similar to FIG. 6 showing only one resistance element connected in an operative position to provide a more reduced resistance than that shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional side elevational view of the exercise machine shown in FIG. 8 showing the third pair of bolsters pushed to the end of the tube to tension the single resistance element;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the machine being used for a leg press;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the machine being used for exercising a person's abdominal muscles;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the exercise machine and its associated floor cradle being used for a bun kick;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the exercise machine of the present invention being used for exercising a person's inner thigh; and

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the exercise machine used for exercising a person's outer thigh.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the portable exercise machine 1 of the present invention comprises an elongated tube 2, elliptical in cross-section, as shown in FIG. 5, and having a pair of bolsters or handles 3 and 4 fixedly attached to each end thereof. A third pair of bolsters or handles 5 is positioned intermediate the handles 3 and 4 and is slidably mounted on the tube 2 in a reciprocatory movement relative to the pairs of bolsters 3 and 4.

The movable bolsters 5 are connected to the tube 2 by means of a transversely extending spindle 5 a extending through elongated slots 2 a provided in the sidewalls of the tube 2. As will be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the spindle 5 a is connected to a carriage 6 slidably mounted in the tube 2.

The carriage 6 comprises a piston having a plurality of axially extending partitions forming chambers 6 a. One end of each chamber 6 a communicates with a respective socket 6 b provided in one end of the carriage 6 and the opposite end of each chamber communicates with a slot 6 c formed by radially inwardly and outwardly extending flanges 6 d and 6 e. Elastic straps 7 are contained within the tube 2 to provide the desired resistance to the movement of the bolster 5 from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 7. Each elastic strap 7 has a collar 7 a fixedly connected to one end thereof and received in a respective socket 6 b in the carriage 6. The opposite end of each strap 7 also has a collar 7 b fixedly connected thereto. A transversely extending partition 8 is fixedly connected to the interior wall of the tube 2 and is provided with slots 8 a, as shown in FIG. 3, for receiving the corresponding end portion of a respective strap 7 and for providing a shoulder for releasably holding the collar 7 b.

By the construction and arrangement of the pair of bolsters 5 and the carriage 6, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, when the bolsters 5 are pushed from the initial position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG., 7, the straps 7 are stretched accordingly to provide resistance to the movement of the bolsters 5.

Each elastic strap 7 provides an increment of resistance; therefore, the arrangement shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 will provide the maximum amount of resistance. The strength of the elastic straps may vary which potentially provides more than just three resistance levels. If it is desired to reduce the amount of resistance, a selected number of elastic straps 7 can be disconnected from the partition 8, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, so that the elastic straps 7 not in use are merely carried by the carriage 6. As will be seen in FIG. 3, the tube 2 has a removable cover 2 b whereby access to the interior of the tube 2 is provided to facilitate the selective connection of the elastic straps 7 to the partition 8.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to store the portable exercise machine or for using the machine during a bun kick, a stand 9 is provided which comprises a base portion 9 a adapted to engage the ground, and an upwardly extending arm portion 9 b hingedly connected as at 9 c to the base portion 9 a. The exercise machine 1 is adapted to be detachably connected to each end of the stand 9, by a rotatable latch 2 c on one end of the tube 2, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, receivable in an aperture 9 d provided in the rear portion 9 b. The opposite end of the tube is provided with an aperture 2 d adapted to receive a hook member 9 e in the corresponding end of the tube 2.

The use of the portable exercise machine for various exercises is illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14 wherein it will be seen in FIG. 10 the machine is being used for a leg press exercise in which, while in a seated position, the exerciser positions the machine 1 so that handles 4 are on the floor and the exerciser's foot pushes downwardly on the bolsters 5 in the direction of the large arrow.

FIG. 11 illustrates the use of the machine for exercising a person's abdominal muscles wherein the exerciser, while in the seated position, holds the bolsters 4 and bends the chest forward in the direction of the right arrow, whereby the bolster 5 moves in the direction of the left arrow to thereby tension the straps.

FIG. 12 illustrates the use of the machine for a bun kick exercise wherein the machine 1 is mounted in the stand 9 resting on the floor and while standing, the exerciser places the rear portion of his lower leg against the bolster 5 and moves his leg in the direction of the small arrow thereby causing the bolster 5 to move in the direction of the large arrow.

FIG. 13 illustrates the use of the machine for exercising a person's inner thigh wherein, while seated, the person places the handle 4 on the inside of one leg and the bolster 5 on the inside of the other leg. The legs are then moved in the direction of the small arrows causing the bolster to move in the direction of the large arrow, thereby tensioning the straps.

FIG. 14 illustrates the use of the machine for exercising a person's outer thigh wherein, while seated, the person places the handle 3 on the outside of one leg and the bolster 5 on the outside of the other leg. The legs are then moved in a direction indicated by the small arrows thereby causing the bolster 5 to move in a direction of the large arrow, thereby tensioning the straps.

From the above description, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the exercise machine of the present invention is an improvement over heretofore employed bun, thigh and abdominal muscles exercise machines in that the machine I is readily portable and the resistance forces can be easily adjusted to accommodate various uses. For a portable machine, it is quite efficient exercising one's entire lower body, inner and outer thighs, quadriceps and hamstrings, calves and the buttocks.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims. 

1. A portable exercise machine for exercising a person's bun, thigh and abdominal muscles comprising an elongated tube, handles fixedly connected to each end of said tube, a carriage slidably mounted in said tube, a third handle connected to said carriage, variable resistance means connected between said carriage and one end of said tube, whereby reciprocatory movement of the third handle is resisted, a stand, and means detachably connecting the tube to said stand for storing the machine and for supporting the machine during a bun kick exercise.
 2. A portable exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein an axially extending slot is formed in the sidewall of said tube, a transverse spindle extending through said slot, said spindle being connected to said carriage and said third handle being integral with said spindle.
 3. A portable exercise machine according to claim 2, wherein the carriage comprises a piston having a plurality of axially extending partitions forming chambers, a plurality of sockets provided in one end of said piston, one end of each chamber communicating with a respective socket, the opposite end of each chamber being open, a transversely extending partition fixedly connected to the interior wall of the tube in proximity to one end thereof, said resistance means being connected between the piston sockets and said transversely extending partition.
 4. A portable exercise machine according to claim 3, wherein the resistance means comprises a plurality of axially extending elastic straps, a first collar fixedly connected to one end of each strap and mounted in a respective slot in the piston, a second collar fixedly connected to the opposite end of each strap, said second collar being detachably connected to said transversely extending partition, whereby the straps can be selectively detached from the transversely extending partition, to thereby vary the resistance of the machine.
 5. A portable exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for detachably connecting the tube to the stand comprises a latch on one end of the tube, an aperture on one end of the stand, said latch being insertable into said aperture, a hook member on the opposite end of said stand and an aperture on the opposite end of said rube, said hook member being insertable into said tube aperture.
 6. A portable exercise machine according to claim 5, wherein the stand comprises a base portion and an upwardly extending arm portion, and means hingedly connecting the arm portion to the base portion. 